The date for this year's Jayco Bendigo Cup is unlikely to be changed.
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Melbourne's spring racing carnival may be overhauled because of a clash with the rescheduled AFL finals, but the Bendigo Jockey Club's feature meeting is expected to remain on Wednesday, October 28.
"We're expecting to receive something official from Country Racing Victoria and Racing Victoria over the next two weeks,'' BJC chief executive Aaron Hearps said.
"We're expecting that the Bendigo Cup will remain unchanged and be six days before the Melbourne Cup.
"There's no confirmation as yet, but that's what we're expecting."
Racing Victoria is expected to announce an overhaul of its spring dates next week.
The Melbourne Cup would still be run on the first Tuesday in November, while the dates for the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley (October 24) and Derby Day (October 31) at Flemington would not change.
But the Caulfield Cup would move from October 17 to November 28, while the Caulfield Guineas would be run a week earlier on November 21.
One of the BJC's most popular meetings is its Beach Party Raceday on Caulfield Cup day.
Hearps said he would be happy to have the Beach Party meeting rescheduled.
"My preference would be to move that meeting because if we can't have crowds to the extent we would like then there's not much point running a day like that,'' Hearps said.
"It's an event day for crowds to come. it's not a strong racing card, so if we could push that to a date in late January or early February then that would be preferential from our club's perspective.
"Hopefully the world is a better place by early in 2021 and we can have a strong crowd early in the new year. That's what we'll be pushing for."
COVID-19 restrictions mean race tracks have been spectator free for more than two months.
Traditionally, Bendigo Cup day is a public holiday in Bendigo and thousands of fans pack into the course.
No decision has been made on whether the public holiday will remain on Bendigo Cup day if crowds can't attend the feature meeting.
"Until we're in a better position to know the cards we've been dealt, then we'll have those conversations with the council,'' Hearps said.
"The industry is growing more optimistic by the month that some crowds will be allowed back to the course by late October.
"If that was the case there'd be still restrictions on crowds, but with a course the size of Bendigo with multiple entry and exit points, we believe we should be in a position to have some crowds on course.
"Of course, that's as long as everything is progressing well and there's no further COVID-19 outbreaks.
"We're quite optimistic we'll have some crowds on course, but we're still quite a way from Cup day just yet."
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